1
as in grim
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
stark and forbidding mountains that the settlers knew that they would have to cross
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions
the school's stark prohibition against obscene slogans on clothing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present
house buyers trying to imagine what those stark rooms would look like when filled with furniture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in desolate
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
a once-lush landscape rendered depressingly stark by strip-mining and deforestation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in spartan
providing only the essentials and nothing fancy or luxurious
monks who have committed themselves to living in stark cells and working and praying in silence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stark
There was a stark contract between Haliburton's play in Games 4 and 5.
—
Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
The dueling papers set up a stark decision for U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey, who is set to sentence Madigan on June 13.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
In stark contrast to Snap, Meta is a more stable, resilient, and deeply entrenched entity.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Through the capsule’s large panoramic windows, the crew will see the planet's curvature and the stark contrast between the bright blue atmosphere and the blackness of space.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stark
Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
The dueling papers set up a stark decision for U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey, who is set to sentence Madigan on June 13.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
In stark contrast to Snap, Meta is a more stable, resilient, and deeply entrenched entity.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Through the capsule’s large panoramic windows, the crew will see the planet's curvature and the stark contrast between the bright blue atmosphere and the blackness of space.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stark
Adjective
-
As Read walked to the bench with her legal team, Peggy O'Keefe, seated every day front and center, gave the defendant a grim look, video shows.—
Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2025
-
After trading away star guard Luka Doncic for big man Anthony Davis, many saw Dallas as a team with a grim outlook for the future.—
Matt Levine,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Johnson paired the look with sheer black tights, giving the ensemble a unified tonal element overall.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
3 June 2025
-
The sheer emotional momentum of being part of something—a sea of people unified by purpose—dissipates into the static of daily life.—
Adam Met,
Time,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Delle, devoid for so long from its intrinsic need for social interaction might be filling in the gaps by talking to himself.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
14 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
When The Last of Us premiered back in 2023, there was massive chatter surrounding Pascal and his penchant for rescuing desolate children in TV shows.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
25 May 2025
-
See a camera operator following Snook to a desolate corner?—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
Peter Capaldi - Twelfth Doctor From 2014-2017, a gruff and action-ready Peter Capaldi shredded an electric guitar through the TARDIS.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 May 2025
-
Over a four-decade career that began with a role on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Lyonne has become known for portraying characters that are gruff but likable, hard-nosed but sympathetic.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
Ahead of the most important game of the year, Luke Esquivel said the key to a strong performance will be simple.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 June 2025
-
Track what brings business Your process on LinkedIn is simple.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
American retailers cried foul and indicated Santa Claus’s sled would be empty.—
Bruce Yandle,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2025
-
Companies that are serious about the future of work know that AI implementation without workforce enablement is an empty investment.—
Sol Rashidi,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
For many of the faithful, the pilgrimage begins at a sacred mud volcano rising from the barren landscape near the Makran Coastal Highway.—
Zia ur-Rehman Asim Hafeez,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
-
The festival was deliberately planned for the barren weeks in June after college students left and before the summer concert and festival season kicked in.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stark. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share